Gold-separator



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l. A. DERRENBERGER.

GOLD SEPARATOR. No. 554,912. Patented Feb. 18, 1896 WITNESSES c mpgwdzw/ 3 Shets-Shet 2.

(No Model.)

A. DERRENBERGER.

GOLD SBPARATOR Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 3 sheets-sheets.

A. DERRENBBRGER.

GOLD SEPARATOR. I No. 654,912. Patented Feb, 18, 1896.

5'; IM i NITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

ADAM DERRENBERGER, OF TACOMA, XVASHINGTON.

GOLD-SEPARATO R. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,912, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed June 3, 1895. Serial No. 551,548. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADAM DERRENBERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Separators and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in ore-separators, and has particular relation to gold-separating apparatus.

The invention consists of the combination, with a main frame, of an independent laterally-shaking frame, a series of gold-retaining connected trays mounted in the same, an independent longitudinally-sliding frame mounted below the aforesaid frame, an endless amalgamating-belt mounted 011 said latter frame and adapted to receive the discharge from the lower of said trays, and means for operating the laterally-shaking frame and the longitudinally-sliding frame simultaneously.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangementsof parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a central vertical longitudinal section through the devices embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical section,partly broken away, of said devices on the line a 13 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of said devices. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of the same. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of said devices; and Fig. 6 represents a detail top plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the longitudinally-moving frame and the amalgamating apron or belt, the latter being broken away to expose the cleaning-brushes.

A in the drawings represents the main frame of the machine; B, the laterally-shaking frame; 0, the longitudinally sliding frame, and D the amalgam ating-belt mounted on the latter. The laterally-shaking frame or box B is mounted between the uprights of the frame A by flat bars 1), which are pivoted 'at their upper ends to the cross-bars of the frame and have their respective lower ends pivoted to the respective lower sides of the said box. It will thus be seen that said frame B is free to swing laterally from side to side, the uprights of the frame A being set far enough apart to permit this swinging without said frame coming in contact with the said uprights. This frame B is open top and bottom and is provided at its top with a fixed grating b, that inclines toward the rear of the machine. Oppositely-inclined guides b are mounted upon the sides of the box to receive and support the inclined riflle-trays b and the inclined amalgamating-trays 12 The trays b have their bottoms provided with rifile-bars 1)", extending laterally across the same so as to form pockets to arrest nuggets and other coarse particles of gold. The amalgamatingtrays b have their bottoms covered with copper plates, upon which mercury is spread, so as to catch all fine particles of gold as they pass over said plates. The lower end of the lower amalgamating-tray is provided with a lateral trap b to catch small particles of quicksilver that have escaped all the trays.

It will be seen that the sand or crushed ore containing the gold will be discharged from the lower end of the top tray onto the upper end of the oppositely-inclined tray beneath the same, and so on through the entire series until the last tray is reached, when all the remaining gold, sand, &c., will be discharged upon the amalgamating-apron.

It will also be seen that each of the trays can readilybe removed to clean the gold from its rifflesor amalgamating-plate. The trays are held firmly in position while the machine is in operation by rods Z), which pass through screw-eyes b attached to the ends of said trays and also to frame B in such a mannerthat each of said rods can be passed straight through all of the eyes on its respective end of the machine.

An ore or sand feeding hopper or chute a is mounted on the frame at the upper end of the grating Z2 so as to discharge thereon. A water-chute a is also mounted on said frame so as to discharge upon the said upper end of the grating beneath the discharge of the chute a. All large pieces of ore, stone, sticks, and the like pass down the grating and are discharged from the machine without entering the oppositely-inclined trays.

Upon one of theuprights of t e frame is mounted a journal-frame, consisting of two spacing-blocksf, connected by metallic plates f. A combined belt and gear-wheel F is journaled in this frame by its shaft f which is squared at its outer end so that a orankoperating handle can be applied thereto when so desired. The toothed portion of the Wheel F engages a small gear f also journaled in said frame by its shaft f which carries a crank-disk f provided with a crank-pin f". Bell-crank levers h are pivoted on the frame in a horizontal position, and have their respective inner ends connected to the frame B by links h. The outer ends of said levers are connected by a bar 71 so that they must both move together. The bar 7L2 is provided with an eye 7L3. A pitman 72, has one end mounted on the crank-pin f and the other passed through said eye 71?, so that as the crank-disk is rotated the bell-crank levers are operated, and thus shake the frame B from side to side in an approximately horizontal plane.

A lever 11 is pivoted 011 the frame A at one end, and has its opposite end connected to the sliding frame 0 by a link 0. A pitman c connects said lever H and the crank-pin f, and the said sliding frame is thus reciprocated when the crank-disk is rotated; but such reciprocation is at right angles to the shaking action of the frame B. The under side of said frame Ois provided with metallic plates 0 as is also the upper surface of frame A, upon which said frame O slides, so said frame may slide with as little friction as possible, as lubricant can be introduced between said plates. The endless copper amalgamating-belt D is mounted in an inclined position in said frame by rollers 61 d, journaled at the front and rear ends of said frame, and supplemental rollers (Z (Z CF.

The rollers d d (l are each provided about their middles with an annular groove (1 to accommodate a tension cord or rope d, which passes about said rollers and assists in supporting said belt and keeping it from sagging in the middle. Longitudinal strips d are mounted in said frame 0 to support the upper edges of the said amalgamating-belt. Said belt is revolved intermittently, being moved each time the frame moves forward. This movement is caused by a lever I mounted loosely upon one of the journal ends of the shaft of the roller cl and provided with apivoted pawl 7; which engages a ratchet-wheel 2" fast on said journal end. The outer end of said lever I is connected to the frame A by a link i so that as the frame 0 is reciprocated back and forth said lever will be rocked upon said journal end and thus cause the rotation of the said roller d by the pawl and ratchet and thus the belt will move forward.

The forward part of the frame 0 is provided with a combined scraper and discharge-gutter C. The scraper portion of this part 0 engages the surface of the amalgamating-belt, and as the latter revolves the mercury and gold are scraped from the surface of said belt and conducted away by said gutter portion.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the amalgamating-belt inclines forward and downward and receives the ore, sand, water, &c., from the lower tray at its rear end and with the result that all of the ore, sand, &c., will flow forward down said belt over the entire upper surface of the same and any fine gold that escaped the trays above will be caught and retained upon the amalgamated surface of said belt. To get the best results from the belt it must be kept bright and clean and be freshly amalgamated each time it makes a complete revolution, as the mercury is scraped from the same by the scraper O as the belt moves around. For this purpose I provide the frame 0 with guides 0 in which are mounted a sliding brush and a sliding polisher c 0 respectively. Both the brush and the polisher bear against the outer surface of the belt and are reciprocated laterally beneath the same by bell-crank levers c c pivoted on the respective sides of the frame 0 and connected to said brush and polisher, respectively,by connecting-rods a The outer ends of each of the said bell-crank levers are connected to the frame A by connecting-rods c. The result of this construction is that as the frame 0 is reciprocated back and forth the bell-crank levers which are connected to the stationary frame must be operated and thus reciprocate the brush and polisher.

An am algamating-tray K is arranged below the belt D, and the roller (1 is so placed that said belt D must pass through the mercury in said tray as it revolves and thus become thoroughly amalgamated.

My machine is designed particularly for the working of floating gold, or such gold as is contained in the sand taken from river-beds and the like; but crushed ore can be worked equally well if so desired.

My machine can either be operated by hand by attaching a suitable crank-handle to the squared end of the shaft f or by any suitable power-belt passed about the belt-wheel F.

Having now describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gold-separator, the combination with a main frame of an independent laterallyshaking frame, a series of gold-retaining connected trays mounted in the same, an independent longitudinally-sliding frame mounted below the aforesaid frame, an endless amalgamating-belt mounted on said latter frame and adapted to receive the discharge from the lower of said trays, means connecting the power-shaft with both the laterally-shaking and longitudinally-sliding frames whereby they are reciprocated simultaneously, and means for rotating said belt simultaneously with the reciprocation of the frames, all of IIO said parts being constructed and arranged to be set in motion by the same power-shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a gold-separator,the combination with a main frame, of an independent laterallyshaking frame, a series of gold-retaining trays mounted in the same and discharging one into the other, a longitudinally-shding frame below the laterally-shakin g fram e, a rotary am algamating-belt mounted upon the same and adapted to receive upon its upper surface the discharge from the lower one of said trays, and means for operating said laterally-shaking frame and longitudinallysliding frame simultaneously, and means for operating the amalgamating-belt, comprising a vibrating lever pivoted on the axle of one of the beltsupporting drums and connected with the main frame, a pawl on said lever, and a ratchet-wheel on said axle, substantially as described.

3. In a gold-separator, the combination with a main frame, of an independent laterallyshaking frame, amalgamating-trays mounted in the same, a longitudinally-sliding frame below said laterallyshakin gframe, an endless rotary amalgamating-belt mounted on said latter frame, and means for operating said frames simultaneously; said means comprising apower-shaft, horizontally-arranged bellcrank levers mounted on the main frame and connected to the laterally-shaking frame and the power-shaft, and an operating-lever also mounted on the main frame and connected to the power-shaft and the longitudinally-sliding frame, substantially as described.

4. In a gold-separator, the combination with a main frame, of an independent laterallyshaking frame, gold-retaining trays mounted in the same and communicating with each other, a longitudinally-sliding frame, a rotary amclgamating-belt mounted upon the same and below said trays and adapted to receive upon its upper surface the discharge from the said trays, a scraper and discharge-trough for removing the mercury and gold from said belt, polishing-brushes for said belt, a mercury-tray through which said belt passes, and means for operating said laterally-shaking frame and the amalgamating-belt simultaneously from the same power-shaft, substantially as described.

5. v In a gold-separator, the combination with a main frame, of an independent laterallyshaking frame, oppositely-inclined riffie and amalgamating trays mounted in the same and communicating with each other, an independent sliding fram e mounted below said shakin gframe, a rotary amalgamating-belt mounted on said sliding frame, and recipro eating brushing and polishing devices mounted below said belt and engaging the same, and amalgamating mercury-tray through which said belt passes, and means for operating the laterallyshaking frame and the longitudinally-sliding frame, substantially as described.

6. In a gold-separator, the combination with a main frame provided with a feeding-hopper, an independent shaking frame, removable oppositely-inclined riffle and amalgamating trays, an independent sliding frame below said shaking-frame an endless inclined amalgamating-belt mounted on said frame so as to receive upon its upper surface the discharge from the lower of said trays, means for intermittently revolving said belt, a scraper for removing the mercury and gold from said belt, reciprocating, cleaning and polishing devices engaging said belt, a mercury-tray through which said belt passes, and means for operating the shaking-frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADAM DERRENBERGER. Witnesses:

G. W. DELAMA'IER, FRANK J. MILLER. 

